St. Chad’s Building Committee 3

Meeting # 31

06/05/2008

Attendees:  Susan Carson, Bob Gough, Merri Jean Jones, John Kaltenbach, Jan Kingsbury, Rich Lehoucq, Eileen Simpson, Richard Simpson, Don Smiset (guest), and Father Brian Winter

 

Members Absent: Paul Apodaca, Bo Keith, and Debra Kincaid

 

Handouts provided at meeting: 

Agenda

9:45 Service Attendance Compared to 80% Full

 

1.      Bob Gough opened the meeting and led the prayer. 

 

2.      The agenda as presented was informally approved.

 

3.      Strategy.

a. The group summarized the Monday, June 2 session led by Terri Mathes of the Episcopal Church Foundation:  Terri voiced the opinion that we had given our congregation an opportunity to view and comment upon the design.  There is sticker shock in regard to the building costs.  We have not provided needed opportunities for soliciting individual feedback on next steps.  Terri suggested we use the phrase “We heard you” as soon as possible and in as many media as we have available.  Terri suggested holding small group meetings during July.  This will be feasible since we need time to organize the sessions, publicize and send invitations.

 

There was some concern that Terri Mathes did not sense our concern of not getting the pledges as desired and opinion of some lead-parishioners who do not desire a second capital campaign.

 

It was expressed that “people support what they create” and we have not given parishioners a chance of ownership on the building project.  Small groups are a good idea for better understanding of the process, as well as meetings where we engage the architect with the congregation’s input and ideas.  Members of the BC3 have buy-in because we are so close to the process.  Parishioners haven’t had the opportunity as yet.

 

There was concern that we are involving too many people in the design process.  The process should be more like our form of government, where we trust representatives to do what we elected them to do.  There was some disagreement with the comparison of our church organization to our national government, in that the church is more of a family.  It was felt we could do better at ownership of the project, especially for the group considered leaders of our church.  To paraphrase Terri, more courting is required.

 

Growing from a pastoral to a program church creates issues.  This change occurs when a congregation moves from 150 average weekly attendances to 200.  A new way of thinking is required.

 

It was noted that our congregation historically has a strong lay leadership and that we have not given sufficient attention to lay involvement.  We incorrectly believed the past parish meetings would suffice, but now we need to find a mechanism for more exploration of options.

 

Suggestions included allowing parishioners to play with the design in order to close the gap between cost and funding.  Listen to what parishioners say.  Provide the expense spreadsheet to explain BC3’s position on funding.

 

Don Smiset, guest, gave the opinion that the BC3 did what they were asked to do and provided good communications with the parish.  Sticker shock is the big issue.

 

Bob Gough stated there was value in having Terri Mathes here to work with us.  It now allows us the freedom to put more attention on congregational support even if this action slightly delays the project.  Congregational enthusiasm can be restored even after a delay if they believe the delay is for the good.  We should take time to get more input because it may lead us to obtain more funds that allow us to get the project completed.  There are indicators that the congregation may be able to do more. We did not have a dollar target at the initial kick-off of the capital campaign, and we did not get two to three times the operating budget as is some times suggested as a campaign goal. 

 

b. The group discussed next steps to be taken.  It was noted that stretching out the timeline is realistic and manageable.  September and October will be extremely busy months for the parish with the focus on a parish-wide retreat and hosting the convocation.  Summer vacations are affecting attendance now. 

 

We can try to hold the small group sessions in July, having 10 – 12 parishioners at each session, led by BC3 and Vestry members, and asking other parishioners to be the hosts.  It was suggested that the agenda should take a 180° turn from previous small group plans, and emphasize getting input on design and away from funding.  The key is awareness, education, and stewardship; generate excitement and gather feedback we can present to the architect for the next set of meetings.

 

The group discussed talking points for the small group sessions.  The discussion of the bond program should be held off.  It was thought by some that we would need to present financial numbers as a background for the design discussions.  It was expressed by others that we need to allow parishioners to tell their story and generate their enthusiasm for being part of the process and design before we address a second stage capital campaign.

 

Because no consensus was reached, it was expressed that we should work with Terri to determine the small group talking points.  Suggestions included:

·        Parishioners talk about why they are at St. Chad’s.

·        Talk about the transition from pastoral to program church, what it means without changing the character of St. Chad’s (openness, friendliness)

·        Talk about the possibilities/benefits of a new sanctuary (lead programs, spreading joy, ministries and missions expanded, etc.)

·        Thank the parish for what has been pledged so far.

·        BC3 work the past few months has been to look at scaling back due to sticker shock.  What are the thoughts and ideas of parishioners?  Use the $2.3, new Phase 3, plan for the parishioners to manipulate and discuss.

 

The suggested goals of the small group sessions were:

·        Set the stage for a second campaign

·        Educate the parish on process

·        Opportunity to listen to parishioners, learn what their vision may be

·        Gain ownership of the building project

·        Increase enthusiasm

 

Terri Mathes has indicated she would be in Albuquerque June 23 -24 and could piggy-back a meeting with us on the 25^th.  Eileen Simpson moved the BC3 have Terri Mathes be contacted to come on June 25^th to assist us with small group session planning.  Richard Simpson seconded the motion.  The motion passed.

 

Jan Kingsbury indicated she would attempt to plan hosts for the small groups and the schedule prior to the meeting with Terri Mathes.  This is an effort to reduce the amount of work after the 25^th when we will focus on session content. 

 

Bob Gough agreed to contact Terri Mathes to 1) request her presence at St. Chad’s during the day on June 25 and 2) to present our suggested talking points and goals for the small group sessions.  He will also give her a heads up on our questions regarding building costs and money that we anticipate will be asked during these small group sessions.  Richard Simpson agreed to collect other questions from BC3 members to forward to Terri prior to the June 25 meeting.

 

Bob Gough has drafted a “We heard you” document and will send it to all BC3 tomorrow.  The BC3 was asked to make suggestions to the document and how it should be used.  It could be made into a Bulletin insert using color paper and inserted in the Bulletin by June 15.

 

c. Bob Gough announced that Eileen Simpson has accepted the position of Communications Chair.  Eileen stated that committee members are being sought from outside BC3 and Vestry.  Bob expressed hope that methods could be generated for the feedback portion of two-way communications.

 

d. Bob Gough handed out copies of a graph created by Carl Henry.  The graph was generated with 9:45 service attendance information in comparison with the 80% full capacity rule.  Bob suggested an additional band at 65% full be added to show the 80% is not the only amount considered by some for reaching fullness.  It was suggested cutting the number of years depicted on the graph, reducing the data from 2005 to present.  The graph can be shown on the bulletin board.  It was also suggested a colored seating chart or actual photo be used to graphically demonstrate the issue of a family of four to six having difficulty finding consecutive seats.  We can also show the attendance fraction (# in attendance/156) at each 9:45 service.

 

4.      Old Business.

a. Bob Gough reported he had drafted a report on the effects of not building.  The draft has been sent to Rich Lehoucq for review, following which it will be sent to all BC3.

 

b. There was no other old business.

 

5.      The next BC3 meeting is scheduled for Sunday, June 15 at 11:15 am. 

 

 

New Action Items

31.1 Bob Gough – Contact Terri Mathes for June 25.

31.2 Richard Simpson – Collect BC3 questions for Terri Mathes to address at the June 25 meeting.

31.3 Jan Kingsbury – Plan hosts and schedule for small group sessions.

31.4 Bob Gough – Send “We heard you” document to all BC3 for comment on content and use.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Eileen Simpson

6/06/2008